Another strong selection from the people who brought you recent excellent
gospel reggae releases from Audrey
Gordon and Jah
Servant, plus the Unity
Riddims Sessions Volume 1 compilation (which contains two of the tracks
found here, "Gospel Fire" and "Feed the Children").
The "people" are actually the "person," Jah Servant himself,
who co-produces and plays most of the music on Freedom & Struggle,
lending a similar roots sound sprinkled with old-school dancehall. Several
of the riddims used on Gordon's debut are found here also, but they're so
delicious, it's hard to complain about a second helping. Mike Roots'
singing voice is smooth and soulful, finding a home on both laid-back lovers
rock tracks like "Feed the Children" and "Fight Against" and
edgier roots and light dancehall tunes like "Iron Sharpen Iron" and
"Two Roads." The messages are righteous and positive with a
universality that proves engaging whether you're Christian, Rastafarian, Muslim,
or alien. See starrecordings.dubroom.org.